The Devastating Loss of Hugh Braithwaite

Posted: February 29, 2024 | Author: dana lange | Filed under: Uncategorized |9 Comments

The absolutely funniest person I have ever known has left this earth. Hugh Braithwaite was one of my favorite people, but I was just one of millions who loved him. Hugh was part of my tight knit group of friends in college. Everyone loved Hugh and everyone thought they were his friend because that is the kind of guy he was.

If you were lucky, he thought you were his friend too. Our small group of Hugh, Doug, Dave, Suzanne and myself, had some incredibly magical times as the closest of friends in college and beyond. We had our own language, mostly made up by Hugh. I still call the amount of Worcestershire sauce that is pored out from the bottle “a suga” because that is how Hugh would define it when making a Bloody Mary. We had our own jokes, our own insider stories, our own love for each other, that made our bond unlike other friends.

In college he and I had a running manuscript for a book we kept saying we were going to write, but never did. It was called “Excuses, Excuses.” There were a million excuses why we never finished that book.

Hugh was from Philadelphia and we used to call his Philadelphia friends, his “real friends.” This was because when we left college he said, “I might never see you again.” We were aghast. That was not what happened. We did see Hugh, just not as often or as much as we wanted. But we knew he was magical. We knew everyone wanted to be with Hugh.

Our first year out of college, Hugh lived in Miami and I lived in Washington, DC. We were both in sales and we had similar lives. He was lonely in Miami and I had free long distance because my father worked for MCI. We would talk on the phone for hours. Sometimes just watching TV together over my free long distance. I would go to Miami three weekends in a row that year just to hang out with Hugh.

On the third weekend, I was not supposed to be there, but Suzanne was there with Hugh, so they called me and challenged me to come down and be with them. Our challenge to each other was always, “What are you going to remember?” This was so true, because we remember all the times we were together. That was the weekend I gave up drinking. Many of you know that story.

For my engagement party Suzanne got a trolley that drove us all around Washington DC, making stops at various spots. At the Lincoln Memorial Hugh pulled out a bull horn and read a speech he had written about me called, “I have a scheme.” It was patterned after Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech from the same location. I remember Japanese tourists filming him giving this speech to our group of assembled party goers, as if it was an actual political speech.

Our friend group all have stories about Hugh and our weddings. I can remember being with him and saying, “Have you sent back your reply card for someone’s wedding?” Of course he had not sent it back so I encouraged him to do it right that very minute.

He pulled the card out from invitation and it had printed a capital letter M followed by a long line. “I always have trouble thinking of a sentence that begins with M,” he said with that sly smile. And then dictated out loud, “My, My I can’t wait to come to your wedding. Love, Hugh.” He was the most original comedian at all times.

Hugh never gave one of us a wedding present and it was a running joke in our group. We knew that his presence was the gift. But we thought we got him back at his wedding, but he got the last laugh. Collectively, our group bought an Elvis Bust Lamp with a fringe shade at a truck stop, similar to the truck stops we used to eat at very late at night after a lot of drinking.

True to form, Hugh embraced that Elvis Bust lamp, and had it seat belted into the seat of the classic Lincoln Convertible he and his bride Carolyn drove off in from the wedding. He always had the last laugh and it was never at anyone’s expense.

I was last with Hugh in June, driving around Carlisle with Doug, looking for a truck stop after being out partying with our college friends. I am ever thankful he was my friend.

Hugh leaves behind a loving family of his wife Carolyn, two sons, Will and Owen and a daughter Andie. He leaves brothers and sister, nieces and nephews, his real friends from Philly, his college friends, his company friends and clients, his students, and millions of people who might have just heard him speak at a conference or party.

He was the most infectious person. He was bigger than life, way bigger than his height. He was sunshine and puppies, but those puppies were definitely playing poker. The world has lost one of the greats, way too soon for his 63 years. Hugh Braithwaite, not one of the greats, but the actual great.

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